Method of and means for marking book signatures



R. C. BAKER METHOD OF`AND MEANS FOR MARKING BOOK SGNATURES Filed June30. 1923 mm D R03, 3.95@ @af/@W7 Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROY C. BAKER, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR Application filed. .Tune 30,

Toy all who/m, t may concern:

Be it known that l, Bor C. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, and aresidentl of lollaston, in the city of Quincy, county of Norfolk, andState of Massachusetts, have invented an lmprovement in Methods of andMeans for Marking Book Signatures, of which the following description,in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention aims to improve methods of and means for marking booksignatures to facilitate assembling them preparatory to binding them.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings ofone specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a signature marking machine exemplifyingthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan on an enlarged scale, showing the marker and theactuating means therefor; and

F ig. '4 is a 'front elevation of the parts shown in F ig. 3, the markerand its carrier being partly broken away, the better to illustrate theactuating means.

Referring to the drawings, and to the embodiment of the invention whichis illustrated therein.` there is shown` a marking machine having asignature support, or holder, comprising front and back shoulders 5 and6, presenting a trough into which the folded signatures are placed withtheir backs or folded edges against the 'back wall V6, one of thesignatures being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and designated'l'. Hereim the front and baclrwalls of the trough are inclined as shownin 2, thereby to utilize gravity to bring the corresponding edges of thesignatures into the proper planes. vThe trough has end walls 8, and ismounted on appropriate supports 9 and 10, conveniently secured to theend walls, as by screws 11 and 12, In the present example, the supportspresent feet 13 and 14, which may be secured to a bench, or otherconvenient support, as by screws 15. The signatures to be marked areplaced face toface in the trough, and

MARKING BOOK SIGrNATlll'RES.I

1923. Serial No. 648,748.

are held in liXed position by appropriate means, such as a movable wall16, which is mounted to slide along the front and back walls 5 and 6,and is sufliciently weighted to hold the signatures in place against oneof the end walls.

The marking of the signatures is accomplished by the use of a marker,such as an absorb-ent pad 17, conveniently in the form of a strip off-elt, to which ink or other appropriate marking fluid may be applied,and which will hold a supply sufficient for a considerable period. Thismarker extends transversely of the book signatures, or in other words,it is transverse to the end walls 8. The marker is appropriately held ina holder 18, herein comprising a bar provided with a groove 19, in whichthe marker is received. (See F ig. 2.) The holder is secured, as byscrews 20, to a carrier, herein comprising a bar 22. This bar presents aguide which guides the carrier, the holder and the marker in a pathtransverse to the signatures.

The marking of the signatures is accomplished by rubbing contact of themarker with all of the signatures simultaneously. In the presentexample, the marker is first brought into contact with the signature,and is then moved lengthwise to cause the rubbing contact. This isaccomplished by the use of two cams 23,'presented by the bar 21 andcooperating with cam followers, herein studs 24, which are secured tothe bar 22 by nuts 25. These studs are headed as at 26 to hold the bar21 in place on the bar 22. The cams present oblique portions 2Ty andhorizontal portions 28. It follows that lengthwise movement of the bar21 from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 toward the left isaccomplished by movement of the marker 17 into engagement with thesignatures, followed by lengthwise rubbing movement of the marker acrossthe signatures. Herein, the carrier bar, upon being released, isrestored to its initial position by a spring 29, which, as best shown inFig., 3, has first one end secured as by a pin 30 to the movable bar 21,and has its other end secured as by` a pin 31 to the lixedbar 22.

The movable bar constituting 'the carrier' The several signatures whichare to compose the book should be marked at different points; so`thatfwlien' the: signatures are assembled, the marks` shall serve as aguide', as by collectively presenting a diagonal line across the backofgthecollated signatures. To this end, therefore, the marker and itsactuating mechanism arel adjustable' lengthwise of the backs of thesignatures. In the present embodiment of' the invention, thi isconveniently accomplished by attaching the suj'p'p'o"rting'bar ZxZv to aof racks 33,* appropriately' .seciired' tothe supporting bar as Vbyvsereivs 34.3 (see Fig; 3'), said racks meshing With` p i'nions 35seeured to ai shaft 36, the latter being'niounted in bearings 37, whichdepend from rack guides 38 to the under'sideo't theivall 6. (See'Fig.2.) T o the: shaft isE seeiired; a lni'urledl handle 39, vvh'i'ch begra-sped to rotate the pinion shaft;- there'by to move the markerlengthvv'ise oiE the signatures.

By reference t'olhigs. l and 2, it yvill be noted' that the" backv Wallf6 and the end' Xva'lls 8f presentian'pfenin'g 39, Whose dimensions are`such as' to permit the' described adjust nient dit the'inarker and themovement? there# of intotcontac't vvitlit the backs oi" the signa'-turesl The 'maiiker m'ay secnvedj in the' seleeted position oiadjustmentby any appropriate means; sncli as a pin 40, vvhich may bein'- se'rtd i`n any oneof aseriesof periorations 41* inf one of thei'aekbarsl (se'Fig. 2)", and the latter may be provided with" suitablegraduations 42;' numbered to assist the operatorv in identifyingtheprepei1K holes for the inserti'on of the pin, as Will be evidentfrein" an' enaminatioii" of Fig- 2l It should be undestfed, ofcoursethat the spacing oi the ,holest and fy the g'trcduations may bemad-e to suit thet partieular circtiinsta'nees. In' the operation of themachine; the pin is inserted in the: holejnumbered l, and the operatorthen" proceeds to mark all of the signatures of the first group; Whenthe marking of these" signatures has' been coin# pletediy the operatorthen:y inserts the in .uis acosa heist, marks the sesam smilie etCetera4 tir-itil alll ofI the' Signattii'ishave been marl; after whichthe signaturesfare collated' aciciding'teftheir niairkiiig,` and' anyeinen shoiil'df eee-iii" in them,l the iicebernade apparent' hy the ifgularity intlf" arran menti, of the niarksi las th ap ai on the blanksoi the asseifnblefd I sig r'atu'res meansfof the des'c-iillid4r l"e and'metli'od;l the marking of the carried-l out acennately expeditiously,and eheheleal-ly.

thusdeseribedone embodiment di' brit 'ithoiitli mys eiet'e cl'im" desireby' Lettes Patenti tb seeure'is 4 ,l 1. Ina machineior niarkinEN boeklVe'ans feihl-ding a' series' f signatures" 1n fixed* position; a

signature marker, and; nieans for moving said marker transversely oi'and in c'bnt-act with said signatures.

2. In a'machine for marking book signa tures, the combination of meansfor holding a' series of signatures in iiXed position, a signaturemarker, and means t0 cause rubbingengag'ement of said marker With saidsignatures While so held.

3. In a machine' for marking book signatures, the combination of meansfor holding a series of signatures in lined position7 an absorbentmarker toA which ink may be applied, and mea-ns fory causing rubbing en#gagement of said marker ivith' saidV signa'- tuies ivhile" so held,thereby to rubrink onto said signatures 4L. Ina inaehine for markingbook sign tures, the combination oi" means ion holding a series ofsignatures,` and means for" marking'4 all oi' saidy signaturessimultaneously.

5. In a machine for marking book Ysig'natunes,` -thecombination of a`signature holden, a signature marker, and meansto b'ringfsaid markerinto contact With all of said signa tures, simultaneou'sly.`

61 In av machine for' markingbook signa# tures, the combination of asignature holder. a signature marker,- and means' to bring said markerinto Contact with all of said signatures, simultaneously, and to movesaid marker transversely of said signatures vvhile in Contacttherewith'.

7. In a machine for marking Ebook signaH tures,` the eonibinatibn of a'signature holder. a signature marker, and means tof utilize movement ofsaid marker transversely oi' said signatures 't1 canse' movement of'said marke-r into contact with said sigriatues'.

8. In a. machine for marking book signatures," the combination of asignature holder, a signature marker, a marker ai-rien and means tocause said carrier to move said marker first into ycintact vvith said'signatures and subsequently transversely" of said signatures While stillin' centact therevvith.

9L In a machine for-marking book signa:- tures, the combination of a.signature holder, al' signature marker, and Ameans to' canse a. rubbingeontactdo'f said marker with all of said signatures' simultaneously. f

l0. In a machine for marking book signatures, the combination of a`signaturefholder,`

signatures; and subsequently to a est the' last mentioned movement whileperntt" entinuanc'e or hef fistmenti'onm movelfi. In chine r'm'arkngbiksignatures; the cmbin 'non of a' signature helder, i

#signature marker, and adf llowefr CTO to cause said marker to move intoContact with said signa-tures and transversely thereof while in Contacttherewith.

12. In a machine for marking hook signatures, the combination of asignature holder, a signature marker, a cam follower, and a markercarrier presenting a cam cooperating with said cam follower to move saidmarker into engagement with said signatures.

13. In a machine for marking hook signatures, the combination of meansJfor holding a series of' signatures, a normally retracted signaturemarker, means for advancing said marker to carry the same intoengagement with the signatures, and means of adjustment to vary theposition of said marker lengthwise of said signatures.

14. In a machine for marking book signatures, the combination of meansJfor helding a series of signatures, a signature marker, means foractuating said marker to carry the same into engagement with thesignatures, and means of adjustment to vary the position of said markerand of its actuating means lengthwise of said signatures.

15. In a machine for marking book signatures, the combination of meansfor holding a series of signatures, a signature marker, marker actuatingmeans, and means including a rack and pinion to adjust said marker andits actuating means lengthwise of said signatures.

16. In a machine for marking book signatures, the combination of meansfor holding a series of signatures, a normally retracted signaturemarker, marker advancing means, and means to adjust said marker and itsadvancing means lengthwise `oft said signatures.

17. In a machine Jfor marking book signatures, the combination of meansfor holding a series of signatures, a signature marker, a carrier forsaid marker, means on said carrier for actuating said marker, a racksecured to said carrier, a pinion meshing with said rack, and meansnormally to hold said marker in the desired position of adj ustment.

18. In a machine for marking hook signatures, the combination of meansfor holding` a series of signatures, a signature marker, a carrier forsaid marker, means Jfor actuating said marker, means including a rackand pinion for adjusting said carrier and marker lengthwise of saidsignatures, and means of adjustment to hold said marker in the desiredposition. I

19. The method of marking book signa tures which is characterized byholding a series of signatures face to face, and marking all of saidsignatures simultaneously on their folded edges.

Q0. The method of marking vhook signatures which is characterized loyholding a series of signatures face to face, and marking all of saidsignatures simultaneously by rubbing engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROY C. BAKER.

